No4Mk1T with 24 in barrel?

[ShooterNurse]

Hi and thanks to everyone for sharing your knowledge. I recently ran across what appears to be a sporterized sniper- No4 Mk1 T. The barrel is 24 inches long. No scope or mount, but the pads are there. Bolt comes out without lifting the rear sight. Stock is sporterized. The only markings I remember are ROF, a capital T, 0 on the bolt head. The guy is asking $300. That's all I have on it at this time. Does the 24 inch barrel render this gun valueless? Or is it worth taking a closer look? Thanks again.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[No4Mk1(T)]

Some photos would be nice but the first question that comes to mind is does it still have it's bayonet lugs?

[Surpmil]

For $300 it's worth buying just for the action, if the bolt is original and matching, IMO

[Roger Payne]

Yes, photo's would be nice. If it is marked 'ROF' & it is genuine then it may be a 1941 Maltby. All No4 T's are scarce, but those set up on rifles other than BSA's are considerably scarcer. If it is a real receiver it is worth at least the equivalent of 300 dollars this side of the pond. I know purists would argue it reduces its 'originality' but barrels (& other parts) can always be replaced....
Any chance of some photo's??

ATB

[ShooterNurse]

No chance of pictures. Unfortunately, he is the type of person that if I show that much interest he will hang on to it and it will rust in his basement. I will see if I can get more of the markings. No bayonet lugs. Thank you for the quick replies.

[Brian Dick]

If the barrel is 24.2", I'd venture to guess it's still original and uncut.

[gsimmons]

Don't mean to be pedantic, but isn't the barrel length supposed to be 25.2"?

[vintage hunter]

Brian, should'nt a full lenght No.4 barrel measure 25.2'', + or - a wee bit? If the barrel is dead on 24'' it would have been sawed off right through the bayo lugs, so the remains were likely groung off during the re-crowning process.

[ShooterNurse]

I am going to loook at it again today to try and get more markings. I found one for sale online that claims to be complete, all matching, and lists the barrel length at 24". Was this done on some of them? Since the stock has been sporterized, I was thinking of starting out with scope mount and modern scope for starters and slowly going back to original as money allows. I have a Nikon 3-9 40 (1" tube). Would this scope work temporarily just so I can try it out at the range? Forgot to mention that the bore looked great after we cleaned out the spider webs (seriously). Will hopefully have more to add later today. Thanks.

[vintage hunter]

gsimmons, you and I were thinking the same thing at the same time obviously. Shooternurse, if a No.4 is being listed as having a 24'' barrel then it has been shortened, it's being measured wrong or somebody don't know how to read a tape measure. They all had/have 25.2'' barrels AFAIK.